The Key to Unity- Teaching Plan
Key Thought: Because God adopts, forgives, and redeems us, He also heals our relationships. We can experience a change in attitudes and actions that promote unity.
1. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 2:13-18.
a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
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b. What was the enmity that Paul said was slain between Jew and Gentile?
c. Personal Application: What enmity or division might you have with someone else? How can you reconcile that division? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: “Why do you guys still study and follow the Old Testament? Jesus put that whole system aside at the cross. It’s not about obedience to commandments now, but love. ” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 4:1-6.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. In what ways are Christians to walk worthy of their calling in Christ?
c. Personal Application: How meek and lowly and longsuffering are you with others? How do we improve in that area of our lives? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “All Christians belong to one body, so we should seek to become unified as one church and set aside our petty differences. We all worship the same God, just in some different ways.” How would you reply to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 4:11-12
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What gifts of leadership does God give the church and what are their purposes? .
c. Personal Application: What spiritual gifts has God given you? How do you use them in ministry to others and glorifying God? Share your thoughts
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “I don’t know what my spiritual gifts are, but it doesn’t matter. The church is doing fine without my input. What does it matter if a person does use their spiritual gift?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 5:15-21.
a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What is the relationship between submission and unity?
c. Personal Application: What principles can help you understand how to act toward a member of your family or a coworker? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
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